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07-25-2002, 11:51 PM | #1 |
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Bilbo as adventurer/'burglar'
Can anyone tell me why Gandalf chose Bilbo to go with the dwarves on their quest for their lost fortune? He always hints at a purpose... but it's never been clear to me!null
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07-26-2002, 01:00 AM | #2 | |
Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
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Gandalf already knew Bilbo's mother, the fabulous Belladonna Took, who had an adventurous streak before she married Bungo Baggins. He assumed that that streak would be present in Bilbo as well.
More specifically, Gandalf tells why he chose Bilbo in the Unfinished Tales. Quote:
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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07-26-2002, 06:19 AM | #3 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Indiana
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I like to believe that Gandalf could sense the ominous importance of Bilbo in the scheme of things to come. Of course, there is no ring yet, but somehow, Gandalf gets this intuitive feeling about Bilbo, and he is wise enough to listen to his inner voice and include Bilbo in the quest of the dwarves. What Estelyn says is much more concrete and goes to support the hunch Gandalf has about Mr Baggins.
[ July 26, 2002: Message edited by: Liriodendron ]
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07-29-2002, 04:12 AM | #4 |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
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The immediate reason was because of Bilbo's smell. Gandalf says that Smaug would not recognise a hobbit scent, and also hobbits are naturally quiet. He chose Bilbo because he felt that of all the hobbits he would be the most eager for adventure.
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07-29-2002, 04:24 AM | #5 |
Princess of Skwerlz
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Excellent point, Galorme - the smell!! Hadn't thought of that one! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
07-29-2002, 04:30 AM | #6 | ||
Maiden of Tears
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Hobbits seemed to be generally quieter than the dwarves as well.
Quote:
Quote:
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07-29-2002, 06:49 AM | #7 | |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hobbiton
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It does say Smaug didn't recognize the smell when Bilbo went into the cave. Plus he might have had the same feeling he had about Gollum.
Quote:
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07-29-2002, 07:39 AM | #8 |
Night In Wight Satin
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From what I recall from the UT, Gandalf was a bit dismayed when he discovered that Bilbo had grown rather portly and decidedly unadventurous by the age of 50. Still, with his uncanny sense of fate, Gandalf stuck by his choice, and it worked out well in the end.
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07-29-2002, 09:09 PM | #9 |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The shoulder of a poet, TX
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Smell? That is strange.
I suspect that Gandalf had an inkling that Bilbo's fate lay outside the Shire. After all, he wasn't just an outfitter for some dwarven expedition, he was an Istari, and was always thinking about the greater purpose for his presence in ME.
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